Richard Tottel

The majority of his printing was centered on legal documents, but he is most known for a collection he edited and published in 1557 called Songes and Sonnettes.

Son of William Tothill (the more common spelling of the family name) and Elizabeth Matthew, Richard Tottel's early life is not one easily deciphered.

Tottel's father was a wealthy citizen of Exeter, England and held many public offices in his life span including bailiff in 1528, sheriff in 1529, and eventually mayor in 1552.

[2] Tottel's career leapt forward when he was granted a patent that would allow him to print all authorized books dealing with common law.

The book that gained him a lasting place in history is his publication and editing of Songes and Sonettes, also known as Tottel's Miscellany.

As the sole owner of the printing patent for law books in the kingdom of Elizabeth I a huge legal battle ensued following his death.

The title page of Henry de Bracton 's De legibus & consuetudinibus Angliæ ( The Laws and Customs of England , 1st ed., 1569) [ 3 ] which was one of Tottel's publications, as is indicated by the statement " Apud Richardum Tottellum ". The phrase Cum priuilegio ("With privilege") at the bottom of the page refers to Tottel's exclusive patent to publish books on the common law .